GOCE SM MECHANICAL TEST CAMPAIGN RESULTS ENGINEERING EVALUATION

摘要

This paper describes the activity performed in the frameof the Mechanical test Campaign of the GOCE Satellite,an ESA programme whose mission is to provide globaland regional models of the gravity fields of the Earthwith high spatial resolution and accuracy.The test campaign, that followed a Proto-flightapproach, was performed in the ESA-ESTEClaboratories by ETS, in the period May-July 2004.The activities followed a verification approach ofanalyses and coherent sequence of tests.The GOCE Structural Model system analyses and testcampaign flow was fully exhaustive and provided clearevidence of the quality of the mechanical design and itsfull qualification. The test results evaluationdemonstrated the reliability of the GOCE mechanicaldesign and provided the evidence of the compatibilityversus all the launch loads induced by the ROCKOTLauncher.